Amtrak Acela First Class Review - Better Than Ever? - New York to Washington, DC

Amtrak Acela
Train 2159
NY Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station, NY - Washington DC
Acela First Class - Seat 10A
Price - $193*
* Booked two weeks prior to trip. Pricing may vary

#amtrak

[aresef]

The Metropolitan Lounge is super nice. I dropped by there to decompress after an arrival last year. The food and drink offerings were indeed impressive, especially compared to the only other Amtrak lounge I’ve been in, which was in Los Angeles. I had no idea about the shower rooms but I didn’t need them anyhow.

I rode BAL-NYP, other way was on normal NEC. I got a BidUp seat and the car was packed. I got stuck with a window side table seat so I didn’t exactly have leg room but the service was wonderful. They kept the coffee coming. I got the egg white omelet. It was, like your short rib, fantastic.

[Adam_Gray]

Just booked Acela First Class from New York to Boston!

[cadicorniche]

This was nice, but nothing will ever match the first class service when High speed rail service, between NY and DC, was introduced. I recall the seating arrangements to be that of the first class section on planes. They covered the tray with a linen cloth. The meal was served on ‘China’ plates, with metal utensils, and nice stemware. That’s when high speed service was great.

[kevinhoward]

I rode First Class from Philly to Boston a few years back. Great experience. the attendant was friendly and help. The new Train Hall is amazing looking. Kind of reminds me of the way the original Penn Station looked like. Lots more light, and more space to move around. The ceiling actually reminds me of the original station. (i wonder if that was the point?)

[kirkzevola]

You should have done from Boston to Washington DC the full ride in First Class on the Amtrak Acela Express. Plus Amtrak has brought back the Traditional Dining Service on the Amtrak Acela Express route for their First Class service.

[richardmaguire]

I have been watching your train videos for some time now. They are great, especially your later ones. I love the ones you are doing with audio narration. You have a terrific voice and enjoy "Hearing" your commentary while watching the presentation. I wish you would also show an image of yourself in your future videos, I would enjoy seeing a photo of who is presenting the program. Many other people do this in their presentations.
Keep up the good work and I look forward to your future videos on your channel.

[ivanvelez]

Hi there, Im planning a trip to Maryland in May of 2022. I know I have to take Amtrak to Union Station Washington DC and from commute to Maryland. I did take a look at available Amtrak Tickets to purchase on dates I want to depart and return but only see Buiness and First Class tickets available to ride on the Amtrak Acela train. Im guessing either the Coach area of the Amtrak Acela train is sold out or they just do not have coach.

My question is which is better to purchase, Business or First Class? Now I see that First Class is more expensive than Business, why? What would be the difference Business and first class?
I'd like to sit where there is a big table and not a little tray.

[emb]

Nice video but I wish you had shown more of the first class car. When visiting GB we took a Virgin train first class from Inverness to London. The best experience ever!

[cats]

ACELA is premium service. ACELA First Class adds a premium on top. Last time I looked at a schedule, time difference was about 30 minutes. Not worth it to me.

[adamknights]

I think they need to improve the food presentation if it's to be taken seriously as a first class product.
What were the seats like?
Was there wifi on board?
Power sockets by the seats?

[SirKenchalot]

Nice video, I think you should include prices.

[springstud]

nice video how long was the train ride

[SMichaelDeHart]

I was rather disappointed that you didn't show the interior of the 1st class car in more detail. Also the cost of 1st class vs all other classes.

[DanielsUKT]

Nice trip report if I come to America in the future this is one of the things I want to try out the acela express

[robyoungquist]

First time viewing your channel, so here’s my first impressions (no set order) … video quality/content was excellent. I would have appreciated a peek at Business Class though to differentiate that from your First Class car (you did walk through 2nd class). Your voice intonation hit me as monotone. Perhaps a little uptick every now and then wouldn’t hurt 🤓. The Metropolitan Lounge is dope! I was really surprised. Imagine what it will be when pandemic restrictions are lifted (maybe in the fall). Uuum the tv microwave meal (even though you said it tasted good) needs A LOT OF WORK on presentation. I have heard Amtrak has planned to upgrade long haul dining cars in late summer. They sure have a colossal upgrade to accomplish! Then I think short haul services are last to be upgraded. Would I use Acela ? Yes absolutely! How could you not considering it’s city center to city center service and ok trains are not nearly as concerned about weather abnormalities as is flying. I truly hope that President Biden (aka Amtrak Joe) and Secretary of Transport Pete Buttigieg (yea Pete) make their wishes of high speed rail corridors come to fruition … America certainly is ripe for them and climate change is not a joke. As we see this summer, it’s starkingly a reality. Keep up the great work. 👍🏻

[joerafferty]

Love seeing Sleepy Joe International Airport at 10:50!

[ToABrighterFuture]

The problem with expanding the Amtrak network is, it's a chicken-or-egg conundrum.

No private investor is going to sink that much money, up front, into a national rail network. Acquisition of right-of-way would be fraught with nimbyism at every conceivable turn, making the price sky-high before they could even lay a single crosstie.

It would take government sized money to do it. Problem there is, government money always involves a whole bunch of palm-greasing. And, as we've already seen in 2021, a single election can kill an entire multi-state project.

The private sector can't afford that big a project; the US government would be more inclined to use it to move dollars from Donor X to Politician Y, than to move passengers from Point A to Point B.

It's depressing, but that's where we are right now.

[mariabetancourt]

Great video...
How long was the Train Ride???
How long does it take to get to Washington DC from NY ?

[helenfernandez]

Sleeping cars? Are there Roomettes? Also what is the cost to travel first class?

[markcromer]

I was disappointed that you didn't talk about the seating (comfort, legroom, and amenities).